Injectables Fillers

Fillers are substances which are injected in an office setting to fill wrinkles, expression lines, and facial depressions that may come with age. There are many different filler compounds on the market today, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Collagen is the oldest filler and was the most common for many years. It is the building block of your skin and is usually derived from bovine sources. Thus, it is readily available; however, it does require a skin test to determine if an individual has an allergy to this product. Several different forms exist to treat everything from fine superficial wrinkles to deeper facial depressions. Collagen is relatively inexpensive; however, it may last only a few months. Newer forms of collagen consist of highly purified human-based collagen and as such require no pre-treatment skin test.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance used as a filler that is longer lasting than Collagen. The products available include Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, and Hylaform. Recently approved for use by the FDA, Restylane is injected in a similar fashion to Collagen but typically lasts two to three times longer.

Fat can be extracted from your body utilizing a small cannula, purified and then reinjected for soft tissue augmentation. There is no risk of allergy or rejection using this method, though up to 70% will be resorbed within six weeks. The remainder of the fat cells will last longer though the results are still temporary.

Radiesse is a new biocompatible implant material available for long-lasting soft tissue augmentation. It is composed of tiny microspheres of calcium hydroxlapatite suspended in a biodegradable carrier gel. These results may last between three to five years.

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Collagen

Collagen is the oldest filler and was the most common for many years. It is the building block of your skin and is usually derived from bovine sources. Thus, it is readily available; however, it does require a skin test to determine if an individual has an allergy to this product. Several different forms exist to treat everything from fine superficial wrinkles to deeper facial depressions. Collagen is relatively inexpensive; however, it may last only a few months.

Newer forms of collagen( Cosmoderm, Cosmoplast) consist of highly purified human-based collagen and as such require no pre-treatment skin test. As smaller molecules for injection, these are useful for finer lines around the eyes, mouth, and lips.

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Restylane / Perlane

Restylane is a biodegradable gel based on hyaluronic acid, a substance which occurs naturally in the skin. Since Restylane is based on a non-animal, naturally occurring substance, it reduces the risk of any allergic reaction, transmitting disease, or other complications from occurring. No skin test is required. When injected, it can smooth wrinkles and folds, give volume to your lips or give shape to your facial contours. Restylane treatment sessions take less than thirty minutes and patients can return to their normal routine soon after. The results are instantaneous and last anywhere from six to twelve months. Since Restylane is biodegradable, when it breaks down, it turns into water and carbon dioxide, and disappears without a trace from your body.

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Radiesse

Radiesse is a new biocompatible implant material available for long-lasting soft tissue augmentation. It is composed of tiny microspheres of calcium hydroxlapatite suspended in a biodegradable carrier gel. These results may last between three to five years. It is used for more moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds.

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Fat

Fat injections is a minimally-invasive procedure designed to fill in laugh lines, sunken areas, smooth out wrinkles and other signs of aging. Fat injections can also be performed to augment the lips for a fuller appearance. What results is a more youthful, fuller appearance. During the procedure, fat cells are extracted from areas of the body and reinjected into the facial area. Since fat is harvested from the patient’s body, this virtually eliminates the risk of allergic reactions occurring. The fat injections procedure only takes a few minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the area being treated. Topical anesthesia is applied to minimize pain. Patients can return to their normal activities soon after treatment. The results are almost instantaneous and can last from 4 to 6 months, possibly longer. Results vary from patient to patient. The body eventually reabsorbs the fat, and in order to maintain the youthful results, future fat injections are needed.

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